An emergency meeting will take place Monday at Cairo University aimed at saving Syrian heritage from further destruction amid the country's civil war

Under the auspices of Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (ISESCO), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) bureau in Egypt and Egypt’s Ministry of State for Antiquities, the Faculty of Archaeology at Cairo University is hosting an emergency meeting to discuss all possible measures to protect Syrian archaeological heritage presently subject to destruction amid the ongoing civil war in the country.

According to Mohamed Ibrahim, minister of state for antiquities, the meeting will discuss all possible efforts that could be exerted to stand against the destruction of Syria’s archaeological sites that date back more than 6000 years.

Dean of the Faculty of Archaeology Mohamed Hamza pointed out that archaeologists and Arab ambassadors who will attended the meeting will issue a statement condemning the destruction of Syrian archaeological sites, putting all the responsibility on the shoulders of the Syrian state for failing to protect such sites across Syria.

The statement will also seek to mobilise international and Arab public opinion to take a quick action to stop all destruction of Syria’s cultural and urban heritage.

“Syrian cultural heritage is in great danger and could vanish,” said Hamza.

The meeting will be held in the presence Arab League Secretary General Nabil El-Araby, Minister of Education Mustafa Mosaad, Cairo University President Hossam Kamel, the head of the World Organisation for African and Asian Writers, and the ambassadors of Syria, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar.

Many of Syria’s historic treasures have fallen victim to the 18-month-long conflict that has reduced parts of some cities to ruins. The latest site destroyed on Friday was 700 to 1000 shops of the Old Souk (market) in Aleppo, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

UNESCO believes that five of Syria’s six World Heritage Sites, which include the ancient desert city of Palmyra, the Crac des Chevaliers crusader fortress and parts of old Damascus, have been affected by the ongoing armed conflict.

The meeting Monday will be held at Cairo University's Conference Centre.

Ahram Online welcomes readers' comments on all issues covered by the site, along with any criticisms and/or corrections. Readers are asked to limit their feedback to a maximum of 1000 characters (roughly 200 words). All comments/criticisms will, however, be subject to the following code

We will not publish comments which contain rude or abusive language, libelous statements,
slander and personal attacks against any person/s.

We will not publish comments which contain racist remarks or any kind of racial
or religious incitement against any group of people, in Egypt or outside it.

We welcome criticism of our reports and articles but we will not publish personal
attacks, slander or fabrications directed against our reporters and contributing
writers.

We reserve the right to correct, when at all possible, obvious errors in spelling
and grammar. However, due to time and staffing constraints such corrections will
not be made across the board or on a regular basis.

Please Wait

3

Mary Ross Macarthur

05-10-2012 09:43pm

0-

0+

Let's get real here

I believe preservation of a country's heritage is extremely important for its future. However when you have a situation of civil war it has to be the people alive today, not the heritage, which takes precedence.
It is unrealistic to expect that the current fighting will adhere to any boundaries,anywhere within the country. Indeed, as has been shown, even cross-country borders have been affected.
Contrary to one of your commentators opinion I believe the West is extremely adverse to getting actively involved.
Frankly, I have no idea what the solution is, but my heart goes out to those people every day who are innocently affected by the violence.

Email

Name

Comment's Title

Comment

Please Wait

2

Hamza

01-10-2012 05:19am

1-

3+

Turkish

Is it possible to bringe democracy from backwardness kataq ans suudi arabiya? They need democracy more then Syria and other countries. This is just a game.. You are right %100

Email

Name

Comment's Title

Comment

Please Wait

Karim

04-10-2012 11:03pm

0-

2+

Iran is bestter

You are absolutely right. Iran is a truly progressive Democracy. Hezbolah and the Mahdi Army are spearheads of progress.

1

Maude

30-09-2012 06:39pm

4-

9+

Why so late?

They were pleading since 2011. Why would the Syrian governement destroy their own Heritag? What has been guarded and supposedly protected by UNESCO? The West financed extremists mercenaries that destroyed Irak, Libya, now Syria, they come from as far as Afghanistan, Pakistan and Noth Africa, they attack and burn Christian Churches, Christan Artifacts, paid by Qatar, Saudi Arabia who have Oil and money but no History or culture, they encourage and pay for the destruction of 5000 years old Syria, while they have their American ugly modern malls, Syria old Souks were are burned by foreign terrorists not Syrians. This only make's Israel happy

Email

Name

Comment's Title

Comment

Please Wait

Karim

30-09-2012 11:53pm

3-

3+

Hama 1982

And btw. Hafez Al Assad killed 45 000 Muslim Brothers according his own Ally the east german secret service while destroying the whole historic Quarters of Hama. Please check out what Abdel Nasser had to say about this regime on Youtube.

Karim

30-09-2012 11:48pm

1-

5+

Ignorance

Your Arguments works only for an ignorant audience. The fact of the matter is that the syrian regime would have collapsed one Year ago if there were not "foreign" help from Iraq, Iran and Russia. In the case of Iraq`s Help it`s pure Hypocrisy. Maliki rhode on american Tanks to power with the approval of Iran and insisted on the De-Baathification of Iraq. Which resulted in the killing and displacement of the iraq middle-class and Technocrats. And now this puppet dismisses the same Principles in Syria while backing the Bahrain Revolution.